How a Farm Girl From Sweden Became One of the Season’s Biggest Models

If you followed the Spring 2019 fashion shows through New York, London, Milan, and Paris, you saw the rise of Sara Eirud. The 22-year-old Swedish newcomer was front and center at the season’s most significant collections, rubbing shoulders with seasoned runway stars at Calvin Klein, Prada, Valentino, and Dior among others. Like many budding models, Eirud lived a life far removed from the world of high fashion before she was discovered. “[I] had never even tried on a pair of heels!” says Eirud, a competitive rider back home in Sweden, who was approached by scouts at an equestrian event in 2013. “I was never a girly girl; I was a horse girl—but after thinking about it for a long time I decided that I should at least try [modeling].”

Eirud spent her teenage years surrounded by animals on her parent’s expansive farm in Sala, a picturesque region of the Scandinavian country. “I pretty much grew up in the stables with the horses—at one point we had 10 at the same time,” she says. “We’ve had dogs, cats, hens, turkeys, goats, and rabbits too! So yes, I’m a farm girl!” Proud of her agrarian roots and passionate about animal rights, Eirud still rides in her downtime. “Since I was 3 most of my free time has been dedicated to being in the stable. Whether I was injured or not, that’s where you would find me,” she says. “Growing up like I have, seeing animals have a great life, it is impossible not to care.”

Her love of the outdoors helped her overcome her greatest obstacle: injuries sustained during a riding accident late last year when she was thrown from her horse. On the cusp of fashion fame, the determined beauty wasn’t about to let anything stop her. “I had my eyes set on modeling and of course being able to ride again,” she says. “I am an incredibly competitive person, something I think is common for all athletes on the serious level, especially in horseback riding. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a rider that has been in a horse accident and didn’t get back up in the saddle.” Though the rehab process was “long, tough, and so painful” for Eirud, it was all worth it. “I just decided I wasn’t going to sit at home—within six months, I was back to competing.”

Perhaps almost as tough as the physical challenges, were the emotional hurdles she faced after ending a serious relationship several months ago. “It wasn’t a bad [relationship], but I wasn’t being myself,” says Eirud. “I was scared to travel; I didn’t want to leave home. I didn’t want to put everything into modeling because I was always thinking about someone else. It sounds crazy but if we hadn’t broken up I don’t think I would have ever attempted Fashion Week.”

Free to do her own thing, Eirud opened herself up to new experiences. When her agents at Mikas Stockholm asked if she felt ready to hit the road for the Spring shows, she didn’t hesitate. “When he asked, it just felt so natural,” she says. “I signed with Next, went to New York, and didn’t look back.” The season that followed was packed with memorable experiences—opening Dries Van Noten, chatting with Victoria’s Secret angels backstage in Milan. The most thrilling aspect of it all? Exploring four major fashion capitals. “You meet so many kind and interesting people and you see places you never thought you would get to go,” she says. “I consider myself really lucky and grateful.” Despite her whirlwind success, Eirud hardly has her head in the clouds. “Before [my grandfather] died, he told me, ‘Sara, stand up for yourself, or someone will stand on you.’ I always have that in that back of my mind now.”